Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray out with season-ending injury

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that guard Dejounte Murray has been diagnosed with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. An MRI taken last night confirmed the injury, which occurred during the first quarter of last night’s game against the Boston Celtics.

Murray will miss the remainder of the season.

Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “Murray, in his eighth NBA season, is in his first season with the Pelicans. He was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks during the offseason. He came into the game averaging 17.9 points, 7.6 assists and 6.5 rebounds. Trey Murphy said he played the rest of the game for his teammate. “It hurts a lot, I can’t lie to you,” said Murphy, who scored 40 points in the loss. “He’s been through a lot already.”

Former Spurs guard Dejounte Murray receives warm reception in San Antonio

Via the San Antonio Express News:

Hawks guard Dejounte Murray said he appreciated the warm reception he received in his first game back at the AT&T Center.

Murray spent his first six NBA seasons with the Spurs before being dealt to Atlanta last summer.

“I felt like it was what it should be,” said Murray, who tallied 22 points in the Hawks’ defeat. “It showed nothing but love, both sides.”

The team began the afternoon’s festivities with a video thanking Murray for his time in San Antonio.

“I’m thankful, grateful,” Murray said. “It’s family forever.”

Hawks guard Dejounte Murray injury update: ankle sprain

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, who suffered a left ankle injury during the first quarter of last night’s game at New York, underwent an MRI earlier today in New York. The MRI confirmed a left ankle sprain with associated swelling.

Murray will be out approximately two weeks and his return to play will be updated as appropriate.

San Antonio Spurs trade Dejounte Murray to Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired All-Star guard Dejounte Murray and center Jock Landale in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs. In exchange, the Spurs receive forward Danilo Gallinari, a conditional 2023 first round pick (from Charlotte via New York), Atlanta’s 2025 and 2027 first round picks and a 2026 first round pick swap.

“The opportunity to acquire a player of Dejounte’s caliber, just entering his prime, doesn’t come along too often,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk. “He has developed into one of the elite two-way guards in the league and we’re thrilled to add him to our group. I’d also like to thank Gallo for his professionalism and his contributions to the Hawks over the last two seasons.”

Murray appeared in 68 games (all starts) during the 2021-22 season, averaging career bests in points per game (21.1), assists per game (9.2), rebounds per game (8.3) and steals per game (2.0) in a career-high 34.8 minutes of action (.462 FG%, .327 3FG%, .794 FT%). The 6-4 guard became the first player in NBA history to average at least 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.0 steals in a single season. Murray totaled 1,438 points, 563 rebounds, 627 assists and 138 steals, becoming just the eighth player since the 1973-74 season to tally at least 1,400 points, 600 assists, 500 rebounds and 130 steals in a single season.

A 2022 NBA All-Star, Murray led the league in steals per game (2.03), while finishing fourth in assists per game (9.2) this past season. Per Elias Sports, Murray and Hawks All-NBA guard Trae Young will be the first pair of teammates in NBA history who each averaged at least 20.0 points and 9.0 assists per game in the previous season.

The University of Washington product recorded 13 triple-doubles during the 2021-22 season, the second-most in the NBA. Per Elias Sports, Murray is one of only six guards in NBA history with 13-or-more triple-doubles in a single season within his first five NBA seasons, joining Oscar Robertson (five times), Magic Johnson (twice), Michael Jordan, Fat Lever and Luka Doncic. He owns 17 career triple-doubles, the most in Spurs history. Against Houston on January 12, 2022, the Seattle, Washington, native recorded a triple-double of 32 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and zero turnovers in 37 minutes. Murray became the only player in the NBA this past season to record a 30-point triple-double while registering zero turnovers and became one of just seven players in NBA history to do so.

Over his five-year career, Murray has appeared in 320 games (249 starts), owning averages of 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 25.8 minutes (.455 FG%, .330 3FG%, .771 FT%). He became the youngest player to be named to an All-Defensive Team, after earning the nod in 2018.

Landale saw action in 54 games (one start) for San Antonio during his rookie season, chipping in 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in 10.9 minutes (.495 FG%, .326 3FG%, .829 FT%). The former Saint Mary Gaels center poured in 10-or-more points on 10 occasions during the 2021-22 season, including a career-high 26 points on 12-15 shooting from the field against the Indiana Pacers on March 12.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Landale suited up for the Hawks during the 2018 Summer League in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. In nine total Summer League contests with Atlanta (six starts), he averaged 5.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in 18.3 minutes.

Acquired by Atlanta on November 24, 2020, Gallinari appeared in 117 regular season games (22 starts) with the Hawks over two seasons, averaging 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24.7 minutes (.434 FG%, .392 3FG%, .915 FT%). The Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy, native also saw action in 23 postseason games with Atlanta (three starts), compiling 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 24.1 minutes of play (.420 FG%, .384 3FG%, .952 FT%).

Dejounte Murray selected as injury replacement for Draymond Green in 2022 NBA All-Star Game

San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray has been selected as an injury replacement for Draymond Green in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. The fifth-year Spur will make his first career All-Star appearance.

Murray is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists this season. The Spurs guard holds averages of 19.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.06 steals. There has never been a player in NBA history that has averaged more than 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.0 steals for an entire season.

Leading the league in steals and ranking fourth in assists, Murray has 10 triple-doubles this season which is second in the league behind only Denver’s Nikola Jokić (14). The former Washington Husky has twice as many triple-doubles already this year (10) than any other player in Spurs history previously had in an entire season (5, David Robinson in 1993-94 and Johnny Moore in 1984-85).

Murray becomes the first Spurs player named to an All-Star roster since LaMarcus Aldridge in 2019. The Spurs have now had at least one All-Star selection in 41 of the 45 All-Star Games since joining the NBA in 1976, the most of any team in that span.

Joining Murray as Western Conference All-Stars are: LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Ja Morant (Memphis), Nikola Jokić (Denver), Andrew Wiggins (Golden State), Stephen Curry (Golden State), Devin Booker (Phoenix), Luka Doncic (Dallas), Rudy Gobert (Utah), Draymond Green (Golden State), Donovan Mitchell (Utah), Chris Paul (Phoenix), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota).

The Eastern Conference All-Stars: Kevin Durant (Brooklyn), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), Trae Young (Atlanta), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago), Jimmy Butler (Miami), Darius Garland (Cleveland), Zach Lavine (Chicago), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee), James Harden (Brooklyn), Jayson Tatum (Boston), Fred VanVleet (Toronto), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte – injury replacement).

The 71st NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, where there will be a celebration for the league’s 75th anniversary.